The Swinton Druids Temple, Ilton North Yorkshire- Report, Sept 2010

[ERNIE99_UK]

At first glance this amazing looking stucture looks as old as Stonehenge but in fact is much more modern being completed circa 1820. It includes a cave, and altars- there has been problems in the past from an illegal rave and devil worshippers leaving a pigs head

Modern Stone Circle in Yorkshire (North). New Swinton Hall is a mile or so to the west of Masham, near Ilton. It was built by the owner himself, William Danby (1752 - 1833). His next project was the labour intensive work of creating another Stonehenge, with a shilling a day paid to the workers.

An enormous oval of altars, menhirs, dolmens, sarsens and other phallic and neo-Druidical paraphernalia was raised on the Yorkshire moors. Several solitary standing stones lined a ceremonial avenue leading to the temple. It is well preserved in the middle of Forestry Commission land.

A guide to the district dated 1910 claimed that "the builder of the temple offered to provide any individual with food, and a subsequent annuity, providing he would reside in the temple seven years, living the primitive life, speaking to no one and allowing his beard and hair to grow. It is said that one man underwent this self-imposed infliction for four-and-a-half years, at the end of which he was compelled to admit defeat.

[boxfrenzy]

Nice one Ernie, a place that has been on my list for a bit now, and it looks good. Standing stones and follies FTW

[Krypton]

Hmmmm were exactly is this in Swinton?

[KingElvis]

Very nice Ernie, that's a really cool place.

[boxerheaven]

lovely pics

[ERNIE99_UK]

The location is at the end of knowle lane in the woods:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ilto...01929&t=h&z=16

[Krypton]

Im not far from Swinton. Your photos really do the place well

[TripleSix]

Nice photos Ernie.

I think it was April when I did this, we normally have a walk around once a year with the dogs.

[myke]

thanks this is on my list looks great thanks for sharing
myke

[BadBatz]

I HAVE to go there!